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Jude Bellingham has made his mind up about his new club, and it will definitely have come to the disappointment of the many other top sides who were seeking his services.
The England midfielder has committed himself to Spanish giants Real Madrid, joining Los Blancos on a six-year deal.
It’s a stunning move for the 19-year-old, who simply could have gone anywhere he wanted this summer after making the decision to leave Borussia Dortmund.
The teenager spent three superb seasons in the Bundesliga following his switch from Championship club Birmingham, and was mooted with a return to England this summer, with the likes of Liverpool and both Manchester clubs all linked.
But it is the iconic white jersey of Real Madrid that Bellingham will wear next, with the midfielder set to follow in the footsteps of club legend Zinedine Zidane after being handed the number five jersey.
When could Bellingham make Madrid debut?
Bellingham is currently nursing a knee injury, with that injury forcing him to withdraw from the most recent England squad, with the midfielder missing his country’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia.
But the injury should not require surgery, with Bellingham expected to recover in time to make Real Madrid’s pre-season tour of the United States.
That is when the club’s supporters are likely to see the youngster in white for the very first time, with his debut potentially coming in the first match of pre-season against AC Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on 23 July.
If not then, Bellingham could be in for a tasty first Madrid match with Manchester United, with the Red Devils taking on Los Blancos at NRG Stadium in Houston on 26 July.
The hugely exciting fixtures keep coming, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men then taking on fierce rivals Barcelona at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Serie A giants Juventus at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on 29 July and 2 August respectively.
Bellingham competitive Real Madrid debut
Friendlies are one thing, but competitive fixtures are another thing entirely, with Bellingham’s competitive debut set to attract huge attention in the Spanish capital when it finally comes around.
The Spanish Super Cup has been moved to the middle of the season, while Madrid have qualified directly for the Champions League group stages, meaning Bellingham’s first competitive match should come in La Liga.
Unlike the Premier League, the fixtures for the Spanish top flight have not yet been released, with their unveiling scheduled for 23 June.
Real Madrid would no doubt love a home match up first in order to really feel the effects of how much supporters are excited to see their new star man in action.
It is a phenomenal move for such a young player, and there are not many people doubting that Bellingham has the ability and the potential to thrive at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But he’ll definitely be in for a tough debut campaign, with Real Madrid desperate to take back the La Liga crown from Barcelona as well as enjoying a stronger Champions League campaign next time out.
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